Testing equipment



H Kz. GORAV .TESTING EQUIPMENT May 18, 1943 4 sheets-shed 2 1 Filed Aug.2. 1940 l l l l l lll l s 1L l [.L l I I llll Il l1 l llw l YUM l nl o.fw n

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TsTlNG EQUIPMENT 4 Sheetsheet 3 Filed Aug.

May 18, 1943 V- Y H.. z. GQRAs n 2,319,501

TESTING EQUIPMENT Y T Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 `Sheets-Sheet 4 103 "'109 75T 74 2 ze v l a yf T im" Ur l I 1 l Il r i" This inventiorirelates totesting n but it is tol invention is adaptation, '..varlety of articlesunder compressed air.

Varticles to be tested determined testingcycle `is carried out .withoutvention of the `operator..`

:j matically operated means v articles `under test shallfbe maintainedinA their `period for whichthe test is i a device of the typesaidjsupports are .in-`

ViniteiittdMilly 1s, 194e f Bridgeport, Colin., u New York, N. Y.,acorporation of t ZQGora, Jenkins Bros.,

New Jersey i ahplitatiohnhgust 2, 1940, serial equipment, and moreparticularly' toequipment for testing articles under pneumatic `pressure`While immersed in a liquid. The-invention will be exemembodimentln'equipinent for testingvalve stems for pneumatic tires and thelike, bet expressly understood i that" the o1'` .wider utilityV and. by suitableItis an object-of this invention to provide `testing.,equipmentforsubiectingya plurality of articles to pneumatic pressure which -isautomatic in character so that upon ,assembly of the with the equipmenta prefurther intervention ofthe operator.

` Another `object of this invention is to provide adevice of the typecharacterized which: predetermines the time fof. test without the inter-`V mother object of this` ihvehtion'is top mvide -a-.device o1' the typeproper relationship torthe equipment.

Anotherobjectofthis inventionis to provide adevicegoftheftype,characterizedV Withauto-l i `rnatically operated .valvemechanism whichas-V sures the desired supply of pneumatic pressure tothe `articles under test for the predetermined to be carried out.

applicable to the testing of awide characterized with autoforassuringthat the Another object of this `inventioniis to provide Y forinitiating and ternother object of this invention is to for .movingthesupports for j the articlesA under 1v test;` into aconvenicntlocationfor installing and removing such articles.

l Another object'ofthis inventionisto, provide' characterized withautomati' 1' cally operated `means forreleasing the supports for thearticles under test from-pressure while position for installing orremoving said articles. 5

. Another object of this invention is `tdprovide a device of the typecharacterized whichgssimple and compact in construction and' avoids the`necessityfor using highly skilled labor inoperating the'same. 1 yYetotherobjects of the invention will "appear "fasftlie description of'this invention proceeds."

t The invention is capable of'receiving a variety .j provide" i.a-deviceof 'the type characterized with means La device of the typecharacterized withr'auto`` f f. matically operated means minating thetest. Y

" A 7; and

* the invention, pended claims for that purpose. t

tration;

`viceior holding Fig.` 6 is .In order that the assignor .to

ijs citing. ci. vs -ni of mechanical expressions, only one of which isillustrated on the accompanying drawings, andV it is to be expresslyunderstood that the drawings are for purposes oi' illustration only, andare not to kie-construed as a deilnition of the limits of referencebeing hadlto the ap- -Referrlng to" the accompanying drawings,

,wherein the samereference characters are employed to designatecorresponding parts ln the several gures, Fig.

being shown in` section for convenience oi illus- Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the embodimentof Fig.` 1 but with n iuch `of the detail concernedwith the automatically operated supports :for

the articles to be tested omitted in the interest Fig. 7 is a verticalcross section, on anenlarged scale, throughV the automatically operatedvalve t mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a crosssection on'fthe line `8 8 of Fig'. '1; i

Fig. 9 is Fig. 10 is a `schematic elevation of thelcami'or Y ivoperating the means that retain the articles toV 40 be Atestedon theirsupports.

In `the formshown, a il) is s tatio'narily. supported in `any suitableway,

, as by a plurality of legs Il that are suitably atf tached thereto attheir upperendsand suitably secured, as bybolts I Z" at their lowerends, to

any suitable bed plate, foundation'orffloor I3.

Mounted for rotation on and around said table` "lisa ring I4 whichusurrounds `and is centered Vby the vertical peripheral wallfofthe tablei0.`

entire weight `of the` ring Il with its associated parts shallnotwbelborne by thehereinafter described mechanism cooperating with thetop of the-table in, preferably carried bya suitablenumber of roll` erssuspendedifrom the stationary table I0. As s 'ff-OFFICE X 1` is asomewhat diagrammatic elevation of an embodimentof the presentinvention, parts a cross section on theflirievf--B` of a cross sectionon inclined-9 of Fig. i Y

generally circular table thelring Il is also shown, Ibraun-.ts is areVsuitably secured to the inner face of the rim of the table it, and attheir lower extremitiescarry axles Iii on which are f 22 having suitablebearings at 23 and 2t in posts ,25 and 26 projecting upwardly from thestationary table It. Also mounted on shaft 22 is a chain gear 21 pinnedor otherwise suitably secured to said shaft and connected by chain 28 tothe gear 29 mounted on any suitable rotary shaft'which might be lineshafting but is here shown as theshaft of an electrical motor 3l)mounted on a suitable platform 3l secured to the stationary table I ilor its legs il and supplied with current through the leads S2.

Thering l i is provided with any suitable number oi' slideways in whichare slidably mounted the supports for the articles to be tested. In theembodiment illustrated, 48 symmetrically arranged slideways with theirassociated supports are shown around the periphery of the table, but asobvious to those skilled in the art, thisv number may be increased ordecreased as desired. Said slideways maybe of any suitable construction,being shown as in the form of generally rectangular brackets 35 (seeFig. 5) bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the ring le and havin-gslots 3E in their outer faces. Said brackets may be continuous for thevertical height of the ring I4 or they may each be composed of -two ormore separate aligned brackets as shown-in Fig. 1. Slidably mounted inthe brackets 3S are T-shaped slides 31 which, as shown in Fig. l,project above the upper edge of the ring It. At its upper extremity eachslide 31'is suitably provided with an inwardly directed lug or pin 88 onwhich is rotatably mounted a roller` 38 that normally rolls on the upperface or edge of the stationary table i@ but which is designed at lacertain portion of its traverse to cooperate with a cam d, mounted inany suitable way on the stationary table ifi, to the end that saidroller may roll up the incline of said cam d@ from a positioncorresponding to that shown at the 'right-hand side off Fig. l to theposition shown at the left-hand side of Fig. l wherein the slide 3l isshown in its upper position for a purpose to be explained.

Suitably mounted on each slide 3i is a vertically extending pipe illwhich at its lower end communicates with an elbow 62 that in turncornmunicates with a hollow tubular support d3 from the upper face ofwhich projects any suitable number of nipples t or other suitable meansfor receiving the articles to be tested,V hereV shown as tire valvesdesignated A. In the embodiment shown, each tubular support 53 isprovided with five such nipples, and each such nipple is shown as of thetype suitable for receiving any suitable tire valve A. As hereinafterexplained, pneumatic pressure is supplied through the tubes lli to thehollow supports 63 and may enter the tire valve stems when mounted onthe nipples M, to subject the said tire valves to pneumatic pressure.and thereby determine whether they are airtight.

In order to retain the articles, such as the tire valves A, on thenipples it during the period when they are subjected to pneumaticpressure, each of said supports 3 has associated therewith automaticallyoperated means for gripping the tire valves under test and retaining thesame on said nipples. As here shown, the lower end of each pipe sectionil carries a block llt which is suitably retained on the pipe di as by abolt t1 and a clamping member d8 (see Fig. 6) which may be drawn intogripping contact with the pipe. Pivoted on each block t6 at t9 (seeFigs. 3 and 4) is an arm 50 composed of a pair of parallel side members5I and 52 spaced at a suitable distance to receive the upwardlyprojecting stems of the tire valves between the same. Suitably securedlto each of said side arms 5I and 52, as by one or more screws 53, areleaf springs El, corresponding in number to the nipples 44 and suitablylocated so as to engage the flaps of the tire valves and hold the sainesecurely on their nipples. Pivoted to each arm 5I and 52 at 55 is anupwardly extending arm 56 which may slide freely through a guide ii'isuitabhr formed on or secured to a bracket 5d mounted 0n the pipe ditoward the upper end thereof. Y Interposed between the guides l andplates 5S pinned or otherwise suitably secured on the rods 58 arecompression springs 'tt which normally urge the corresponding arm Sliinto its lowermost position as shown at the right of Fig. 1. To liftsaid arms 5B from the tire valves under test, when the operatorsposition is reached, each of arms 50 has an angularly directed extension6l which embraces the pipe Si and projects on the opposite side of thepivot @from the body of the arm 5t. Each of said extensions t! isdesigned to cooperate with a cam hereinafter referred to.

suitably mounted on the stationary table I0 or its legs il, as by theplatform 3l heretofore referred to, is a channel-shaped or trough-likeannular container or tank G5 adapted to contain water or the like fortesting purposes. The water may be fed to said tank 65 in any suitableWay. and any suitable means may be provided for automatically assuringthat the water level is maintained therein. During the period of test.the slides 3i with their associated hollow supports d3 and the articlesbeing tested suitably retained thereon by their arms Fill are below thesurface of the wateras shown at the right of Fig. 1. Between thebeginning and the end oi the testing cycle the supports @it are elevatedabove the surface of the water by the coaction of each roller 39 with,the cam all heretofore referred to. and as the hollow support te israised above the water the corresponding arm Eil is automaticallyelecated so as to release the articles retained thereby to enablesaidarticles to be removed and a new set thereof to be applied to thecorresponding support. Y To this end, the inner wall of the tank 65 atthe operators station is provided with a suitable cam t5 as shown at theleft in Fig. l, and having the general outline indicated in Fig. 10, andeach extension fil as it arrives at the operators station is depressedby its engagement with the cam 68, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, sothat the arm 5e is swung around its pivot 19, against the tension of thesprings tt, to the position shown at the left in Fig. I, therebyremoving the same from gripping engagement with the tire valves or otherarticles on the hollow support t3.

The pipes il heretofore referred to are automatically supplied withpneumatic pressure, and this pressure may be maintained constantthroughout the period of test, or if preferred,

suitableV means maybe associated with the equipment for varying thepressure. Asshown, each pipe 4| connects through an elbow 10'withaflexible tube `1| that leads to a sintable coupling `12 on an upwardlyprojecting pipe 13. Asshown,

` there are one-half as many pipes 13 as therefare pipes ,4|, so thateach pipe 13 `is provided with a pair of couplings 1.2 for supplying`compressed air to a pair of tubes 1 I and pipes 4|. Each pipe 13 isconnected .to a horizontally extending pipe 14 that connects throughacoupling 15 (seefl'ig.`

'1) with a vertically extendingpassage16 formed e' in a rotatablel block11. Block 11 has a central chamber 18 fora purpose to be explained, andat "its periphery itcarri'es,` as by bolts 19, a dependingchannel-shaped member 80 which atits outer prei'phery is formed into arack 8|.'Y Rack 8| cooperates with a beveled pinion 82 (see Fig. l)mounted on `the shaft 22 heretofore referred to.

Block 11 is4 rotatably mountedon the upper, Q e surface of a stationaryblock 84 bolted er .other wise suitably securedl as at 85 to the upperface of the stationary table I0, the depending channelshaped rack member80 cooperating with the periphery `of theblock 84 tocenter and guide therotatame block 11. `The upper face of` the stationary block 84isiprovided with two. arcuate grooves 86 and 88, the former extendingthroughi out a large arc in a circle concentric with the axis of therotatable block and the latter extending through a small arc in the samecircle.` e Said l grooves 85 and 86 are not in communication but a1 .andas at the upper face of the block s4.

Said grooves 85 and `8|5` liein thatcircle'which corresponds with theline of traverse of the lower ends oi the vertically extending passages16, here shown as V2li in number, which lead to the pipes 14, 13, etc.,heretofore referred to. The upper face of stationary block 84 is alsoprovided with `a recess 89 in alignment with `andconstituting anextension of the chamber 18.` Groove 85 is in lcommunication with avertical passage 90 which extends through the stationary block 84 and atits lower.- end connects through any suitable coupling 9| e with pipes`92and 93 leading from a vertically extending pipe 94,` that projectsdownwardly (see Fig. 1) where it is connected with any suitablesourcegof compressed ail-asv through pipe95 having a hand-controlled Yvalve at 96 and a pressure` relief vali/eat 91, e

`Groove communicates .with a `downwardly extending passage `inthestationa'ryblock 84.

and from passage |00 a passage; |0| leads to recess 89. Projectingthrough the chamber 18 and suitably secured in the stationary block 041sa pipe |02 vwhich makes a clearanceV |03 `with the l are separatedfromeach other by solid portions f face ofi the water ini the tank 65, andsimultaneously the arms 50h`ave beencammed to'their e uppermostpositions by the cam `|36. The operator removes thearticleswhich have.been sub- Y `jected to test and'then mounts on' the nipples 44 of eachsupport 43 anew set of articles to "be tested. In order toaiord theoperator sufcient time to removetested articles and install newarticles, cam 40 is so formed that a plurality of supports 43 aresimultaneously in their upper` position, the horizontal dwell'ofthe @ambeing selected of such length as to assure that `the lapse oftime'between that period when'any given support 43 vis elevated by itsroller 39 rolling up` the incline ofcam 40 to raise the support abovethe waterand that period when the same support is lowered by its roller39 rolling down the oppositev incline of the-cam 40 to redispose thesupport 43 below the surface of the water issuilicient for the operatorto remove the tested articlesiand replace them by articles to be tested.

As each roller 39 rolls down thellncline on the cam 40, thecorresponding support43 is immersed in the water in the tank` 65. `andsimul taneously therewith, owing to the cri-operation of the extensionl6| on arm 50 with the cam 66, said arm is moved downwardlyyfrom theposition shown at the left of Figrl to the position shown at the rightof Fig. l, by the `action of the springs so as to assure that theVarticles on thel supportV 43 are tightly and securely gripped on theirnipples,

During thetime `that eachslide 31 is in elevated'position owing to theaction of 'the cam 40,. itsfcorresponding passage 16 in block 141 is inalignment with the short groove 86 instaiionary block 84. Hence airpressurejin the'arti- Y cles mounted on support 43 is released throughthe` pipes 4|, 1I1 13 and 14, the passage 16; groove 86, passages |00andii0l. Achamber 78 and clearance |03. i v As `each `support 43 islowered into the tank its corresponding passage 16 in the block 11`movesfrom communication with the groove 86 to the long arcuate groove 85. Asgroove 85 is in com'- municatlon :with a source of compressed airthrough passage 90 and pipes 92, 93 and 94, each passage 16 suppliescompressed air tothe articles` supported on the corresponding supporti3V through the passage 16 and pipes 14,13, 1| and 4| leading to thehollow support 43, so that said articles are subjected to-the testingpressure as soon assaid articles are immersed in the water.

a Hence for `the greater-period `of the rotationA of wall of theaperture in theirotatable block 11 through which said pipe |02 extends.`Hence air4 released into the chamber 18 through passages |00 and i 0|may escape'to the Aoutside air through the clearance |03. Pipe `94- hasan extension above the pipe 93 as shown at |04 in Fig.` 7, andasv shownin Fig. 1, said pipe extension `|04 leadsto any suitable pressureindicator |05.J To hold the rotatable block 16 in fluid tight engagementwith the upper `face of stationary` block 84, the upper end ofrpipe |02is threaded as shown at |06 and carries a nut |01, retained in positionby a lock` nut |08, between which and the rotatable block 18 is disposeda relatively strong coil spring |09.

The operators positionV corresponds to the left of"` Fig. 1.` In `this.positionV therollers 39 have` mounted `the carne` `40 and `liftedtheslides 31 with their associated supports 43 above thesurthe ring I4eachfsetfof articles on a support 431s entirelyfimmersedin the water intank 85 while it is subjected to 'thedesired 'pneunfiatic` pressuresupplied thereto through thehollow supvport 43 and the passagesand pipescommunicat ing therewith. If any of said articles is notlairtightpthisfact will vbe indicated by Vthe leaking air appearing asV bubbles in thewater of tank 65, and `hence such leaky article may` beapprcpriatelymarked'so that `itfwill be segregated when it reaches thev operatorsstation and released as heretofore explained. The ring |4is'thuscontinuously in move ment. -Articles to be tested are mounted onthe hollow supports 43 by the operatorat the operators stand, and thenin automatic sequence the supports -are lowered beneath the water in thetank 65, the gripping arms`50 are appliedfthereto to `securely retainthg'articles on` their nipples.

compressed air is automatically admitted thereto by the correspondingpassage 16 moving into communication with the groove 85, and for apredetermined period of time corresponding with the length of time thatit takes the inner end of each passage 16 to traverse the entire lengthof the groove 85, the articles mounted on the support 43 are underobservation to detect any leak. At the expiration of that period theslide 31 is elevated by the cam 40 to release the clamping arm 50 andmove the support 43 into appropriate position for removal of the testedarticles. Before the clamping arm is elevated to release the articlesunder test the inner end of the corresponding passage 16 moves intocommunication with the short arcuate passage 86 and releases thepressure from the articles under test, so that they are not subjected tothe test pressure when the arm 50 is raised preliminarily to removal bythe operator.

It will therefore be perceived that by the present invention a testingmachine has been provided which is continuous and automatic inoperation, which assures that the tested articles are securely retainedon their supports, which provides automatically for the admission andexhaust of the compressed air after suitable lapses of time, whichaffords the operator adequate time to removetested articles and installnew articles to be tested, and which is'relatively simple and compact instructure, strong, durable and efficient, and readily operable byunskilled labor.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawings hasbeen described with considerable particularity, it is to be understoodthat the invention is notlimited thereto, as the same may receive avariety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while changes may bemade in the details of construction, arrangement and proportions ofparts, certain features may be used without other features, and partsmay be replaced by equivalent parts, without departing from the spiritof this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appendedclaims for a definition of this invention. l

What is claimed is:

l. In an apparatus for automatically testing tire valve stems underpneumatic pressure, the combination of a rotatable member, a pluralityof vertically movable slides carried by said member, each slide carryinga support adapted to receivey one or more valve stems and` provided withmeansV to supply them with compressed air, a stationary annular tankconcentrically arranged with respect to said rotatable member and withinwhich tank said supports move during the period of test, said tankadapted to contain a liquid in which said valve stems are immersed andthrough which said stems move during the period of test, and cammechanism operated by rotation of said member for moving said slidesupwardly and downwardly to lift said supports in turn above the surfaceof the liquid in said tank to receive valve stems to be tested andthereafter to depress said supports below said surface to begin the testperiod.

2. In an apparatus for automatically testing tire valve stems underpneumatic pressure, the combination of a rotatable member, a pluralityof vertically movable slides carried by said member, each slide carryinga support adapted to receive one or more valve stems and provided withmeans to supply them with compressed air,

a tank in which said valve stems are immersed during the period oi test,'cam mechanism operated by rotation of said member for moving saidslides upwardly and downwardly to lift said supports in turn above thesurface of the liquid in said tank to receive valve stems to be testedand thereafter to depress said supports below said surface to begin thetest period, and cam actuated gripping mechanism pivotally mounted oneach support and operated by rotation of said member for holding saidvalve stems on said supports while the latter are depressed.

3. In an apparatus for automatically testing tire valve stems underpneumatic pressure, the combination of a rotatable member, a pluralityof vertically movable slides carried by said member, each slide carryinga support adapted to receive one or more valve stems and provided withymeans to supply them with compressed air, a tank in which said valvestems are immersed during the period of test, cam mechanism operated byrotation of said member for moving said slides upwardly and downwardlyto lift said supports in turn above the surface of the liquid in saidtank to receive valve stems to be tested and thereafter to depress saidsupports below said surface to begin the test periods, a pivotalclamping arm mounted on each support and resiliently urged into clampingposition with the valve stems on said support, and cam means engagingand moving said arms to releasesaid valve stems when said supports arein elevated position.

4. In an apparatus for automatically testing tire valve stems underpneumatic pressure, the combination of a rotatable member, a tank inwhich said valve stems are immersed during the period of test, aplurality of vertically movable slidescarried by said member, a supportcarried by each slide for immersion in said tank and provided with oneor more nipples to receive valve stems to be tested and with means tosupply them with compressed air, means on each support for clamping saidvalve stems on said nipples, stationary cam means engaged in turn bysaid slides as said member rotates to lift said supports out of the tankto receive Valve stems to be tested, and separate stationary cam meansengaged in turn by said clamping means to release tested valve stemsfrom said nipples when said supports are in elevated position.

5. In an apparatus for automatically testing tire valve stems underpneumatic pressure, the combination of a rotatable member, a tank inwhich said valve stems are immersed during the period of test, aplurality of vertically movable slides carried by said member, a supportcarried by each slide for immersion in said tank and pro- Y vided withone or more nipples to receive valve stems to be tested and with meansto supply them with compressed air, an arm pivoted on each support forclamping said valve stems on said nipples, -resilient means normallymaintaining said arm in clamping position, stationary cam means engagedin turn by said slides as said member rotates to lift said supports outof the tank to receive valve stems to be tested, and separate stationarycam means engaged in turn by said arms to move them out of clampingposition when said supports are in elevated position.

6. In an apparatus for automatically testing tire valve stems underpneumatic pressure, the combination of a rotatable member, a tank inwhich said valve stems are immersed during the period of test, aplurality of vertically movable slides carried by said member, a supportcarried by each slide for immersion in said tank and provided with aplurality of aligned nipples to reaisle-,cor Y l 51 `with respectthereto for clamping said :valve ceivel valve stems to be" tested andwith means l to supply them withcompressed air, an arm pivl oted voneach support and aligned with saidnip-r ples for clamping said valvestems thereon, and

` cam mechanismfor lifting each of Vsaidslides in turn and moving saidarmsto release the tested i valve stems forremoval and replacementby un-Vtested v 'alvestems` Y i -7 In an apparatus for testing `tirevalvestems under pneumatic pressure, the combination of a tank in whichsaid valve stems are immersed for test, a supporting member, meanscarriedby saidV member for holding valve stems tofbe tested iin-` stemson said nipples. during the test period, and

means for lowering said support to immerse said valve stems in said tankduring the test period and for raising said support out of the tankthereafter.`

11. In an apparatus-for testing tire valve stems l under pneumaticpressure, a tank in which said valve stems are immersed for test. averticallyY movable valve stem support comprising a hollow` tubularmember supplied with compressed air `and having a plurality of Valignednipples `coms "municating with its hollow interior and each mersed Ainsaid tank, said means comprising' a i support mounted on said member`forvertical movement relative thereto, one or more nipples on saidsupport supplied with compressed airl and adapted to receive valve stemsto be tested, clamping means pivotally mountedon saidsupport for holdingvalve stemsA on said nipples, and means for lifting said support outofsaid tank and for releasing said clamping means to V"release testedvalve. stems for removal fromisaid nipples.

8. In an apparatus fortesting tire valve stems [under pneumaticpressure, 'the'` combination of `a tank in whichsaid valve stems areimmersed for test, a supporting member, means carried by means normallymaintaining said device in clamping position, and` means forlifting said"support out of said tankand for releasing said device'to release testedvalve "stems for removal from said nipples.

9, Iman apparatus for testing tire valve stems tank Ain which said valvestems arelimmersed for test,l a supportingmember, means carried byisaidmember for holding `valve stems to be tested immersediin' said tank,said means` comprising ,and aligned with said nipples; resilient ymeansnormally maintaining said arm in clamping position, and means forperiodically` lifting said support-outof the tank and moving saidclamping A tire" valve stems under pneumatic pressure, a

i g unde'pntumatic pressure, the combination of a i rotatable supportingmeans, a tank in which said adapted to receive `a valve stem to betested, a clamping device pivotally` mounted on said support and movableinto clamping position with said aligned valve stems during the periodof test, and means for lowering said support to immerse' said valvestems in said tank during the test period and for raisingjsaid supportout `of, the tankV and releasing said-clamping means Z thereafter.

, 12. In an apparatus for testing tire valvestems under pneumaticpressurea tank in which said valve stems are immersed for test, avertically movable valvestem support comprising a hollow tubular memberIsupplied with compressed air and having a plurality of aligned nipplescommunicating with` its `hollow interiorrand each adapted to receive avalve stem `tobe tested, a

clamping `device mounted `on said support and movable thereon intoclamping position with said aligned valve stems, resilient meansmaintain: ing said device in clamping positionduring the `testperiod.`,ine ans for lowering said support to immerse said valve stemsin`said tank during the testperiod'and for raising Vsaid support out'ofthe tank thereafter, and separate means for.

moving said device to release said lvalve stems when said support is inelevated position.'`

13.-.In an'apparatus for automatically testing valve'stems are immersedfor test, a plurality of 1 predetermined circumferential portion of'.their a support mounted on said member for'vertlcal l l arm out ofoperative position to "enable replacing tested :valve stems withuntested valveY stems.

V10. In an apparatus for testingtire ,valve stems l V,under pneumaticpressure, a. tank ingwhich said `valve stems` are immersed for test,afvertically movable valve stemV support comprising a hollow `tubularmembersupplied'with compressed airA i and, having a plurality oi'aligned nippleslcomi `municating with its hollow interior andn each`adapted `toireteive, a valve stem to be tested.

means mounted onf said support'andrmovable travel, cam' means forlifting said supports out ot 'saidV tank in the remainingcircumferential portion offtheir travel, and meanssfor supplyingcompressedair to said supports during said predetermined portion andventing them during said remaining portion of'their travel comprising' amember rotating in synchronism with said supportingmeans and having `aplurality of'ducts each-"connectedwith one 'of said supports and astationary member cooperating with said rotat-` ingmember andhaving'arcuate grooves lying in the circular path of movementot saidducts and registering therewith, one or said grooves `being anlairsupply passage corresponding in circumierential extent with saidpredetermined portion i. of travellof said supports and the other groovebeing an air vent passage correspondingV in cire cumferential extentwith said remainingportiof.

HENRY z.

